Thursday, May 30, 2019

Msg #7 OK, I'll give you another chance.....

Welcome to our seventh preparedness update.All previous updates can be found at https://nehbprepare.blogspot.com 
Useful info and links at the bottom of the page

Important News:

  • Most Important - we are here for you!  I am here for you!  Anything we can do to make learning your music easier, our team will do for you.  Our goal is 100% attendance with 100% preparedness - for 100% fun.

    For example, below you will see a link to a document we wrote last year - we wrote it because someone asked me "I'm not very quartet-experienced, what should I know?"

    Give us the gift of your questions, we will provide answers to you - and to everyone who comes to NEHB in the future.

  • Basic run-through etiquette
    • Advance notice to hosts is critical - if we can't get all four parts, we might have to cancel.
    •  If you are going, notify your host directly - contact info should be in the calendar invite.
    • If you might be going, please notify your host directly.
    • Update your host if plans change.
    • Please be prompt - other singers may be waiting on you - sometimes having traveled a great distance.  Also, when the run-through is over, leave promptly unless invited to stay.
    • Bring your music, a pitch pipe, a pencil.
    • Some homes have dietary restrictions - while it is good to offer to bring something, check in advance.  Some homes have pets - if you have issues, please check in advance.
  • Reminders:
    • If you are a new or returning attendee and want a sponsor assigned to you, someone who can help you prepare better or answer your questions, please ask.

    • Uniforms - it's a little early, but the standard uniform for the chorus concert is always the same: black shoes, socks, pants, belt, plain white long sleeve dress shirt (with undershirt) and any solid colored long tie. If you plan to do Friday sing-outs (more on those upcoming), the "uniform" is a Hawaiian shirt, jeans and sneakers.

    • Additional part learning tracks are available for your personal use only.  $20 per part, contact our Treasurer to purchase.
    • We are still seeking and accepting singers, especially leads.  Please: promote us to your quartet, chorus or other talented singing friends.  Scholarships are available, if needed.  Have them apply.
    • Current members - a reminder that to retain your membership you must have a current BHS membership and you must also attend at least every other year.  Memberships expire after the second consecutive failure to attend.  Future members - if this is your second consecutive NEHB you can apply for membership during the rally via a recorded audition.  More details coming down the road.

Quartet Singing For Beginners

Last year, Daniel Schwartz and I wrote a couple of documents for brigade attendees.  I'll be sharing them over time - you can cheat, though, and find them on the blog website.  All the documents are VERY short.

I keep revising the documents based upon feedback - please share suggestions.  Please?

This first document is a very short explanation of quartet basics.  Very useful to read before your first run-through.

If you are attending another rally this year - please feel free to share these documents with them, too.  (All I ask is that you also ask them to provide feedback.)

One More Last Chance

Words and Music by Vince Gill and Gary Nicholson
Arrangement by Aaron Dale

Can it really be a Harmony Brigade without an OC Times song? Of course not!

Anyone who attended the 2018 NEHB rally with OC Times will remember them powering through this incredibly fun and very “corn-pone” country song.

Vince Gill is a serious country artist, highly recognized and rewarded - both for his original band (Pure Prairie League). his solo work and his work as a replacement guitarist for The Eagles.  (21 Grammys, 18 CMAs, Country Music Hall of Fame, etc).

This song, this song is funny. :-) It invokes half the stereotypes of a good old country boy who likes to party just a bit too much.  Even the title says “I know you gave me my last chance, can I have another one” - it’s just silly. The song hit the top of the country charts when it was released in 1993.

Much of the song, and especially the reference to the John Deere is actually a reference to George Jones, who infamously rode his lawn tractor to the liquor store when his wife hid all the car keys.  George Jones appears in the official music video of the song (“Hey, Possum!”). He parodied that story on several songs - this one was written during his last big comeback era.

Don’t take yerself too serious during this here song. You are a bad man who loves a good woman, and you hope she still loves you too.  Charm is the key to getting out of this fix. Sean Devine knows - you can hear the twinkle in his eye through his voice. :-)

VIDEO LINKS
Vince Gill’s official video (watch for the tractor, listen to that easy tenor, enjoy the guitar)
Vince Gill, 23 years later, live. You can hear the growth in the song


Useful Info And Links

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Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Msg #6 - Rocking out your preparation

Welcome to our sixth preparedness update.All previous updates can be found at https://nehbprepare.blogspot.com 
Useful info and links at the bottom of the page

Important News:

  • By now you should have the first four songs learned well enough to attend a run-through.  Please do attend run-throughs, and consider hosting one as well!  It's fun, easy and all you need is some space, and maybe some water. Do not hesitate to ask me for help with learning.

  • Basses: a friendly thought.  Our part in Change The World is rhythmically complex and very challenging.  It's not too early to spend some time working on the rhythm.  I learned it best when I just drummed it with my hands.  Once you have the rhythm, the rest of the song is reasonable.  (Other parts need not worry.)
  • Our geomap is available to use. Find people near you to sing with.  We kept the contact information out of it, because it is public - please reach out to the Registrar (or other Board member) via email to get contact information

  • Uniforms - it's a little early, but the standard uniform for the chorus concert is always the same: black shoes, socks, pants, belt, plain white long sleeve dress shirt (with undershirt) and any solid colored long tie. If you plan to do Friday sing-outs (more on those upcoming), the "uniform" is a Hawaiian shirt, jeans and sneakers.
  • Reminders:
    • If you are a new or returning attendee and want a sponsor assigned to you, someone who can help you prepare better or answer your questions, please ask.

    • Additional part learning tracks are available for your personal use only.  $20 per part, contact our Treasurer to purchase.
    • We are still seeking and accepting singers, especially leads.  Please: promote us to your quartet, chorus or other talented singing friends.  Scholarships are available, if needed.  Have them apply.


    • Current members - a reminder that to retain your membership you must have a current BHS membership and you must also attend at least every other year.  Memberships expire after the second consecutive failure to attend.  Future members - if this is your second consecutive NEHB you can apply for membership during the rally via a recorded audition.  More details coming down the road.

Rock It For Me

Words and Music by Kay and Sue Werner
Arrangement by Aaron Dale
If you can’t feel the beat on this one, you may be dead. :-)

Twin sisters Kay and Sue Werner wrote this song for release in 1938, for the band Chick Webb and His Orchestra.  Chick Webb was a jazz and blues drummer in the New York scene from an early age, An important proponent of the Swing style, his band became well known at one of the staples of the Jazz scene, the Savoy Ballroom.


By 1938, his band was often winning The Battle of The Bands, over such notables as Benny Goodman and Count Basie. Around that time they began to feature a new young singer - Ella Fitzgerald.

She went on to fame and glory. Unfortunately, Chick Webb (who had significant damage to his body from tuberculosis at a young age), passed away not long after this song was released.

The young ladies who composed this song were born in Alabama in 1918 - making them just 20  years old when they wrote it. The song is one of the earliest popular music songs to use the phrase “Rock And Roll”.


This song makes magical use of the swing rhythms of the era - and it is filled with lovely features. Swing was notable for melodic improvisation - sing those features with a little push-pull but keep it danceable.  Basses, the swing rhythm is yours to establish - and never let go.

VIDEO LINKS
Ella Fitzgerald showing us how it’s done
Mildred Bailey sings a cool variant (different lyrics)
Pratt Street Power, making it fun barbershop
McPhly - bringing a cool rhythmic variation


Useful Info And Links

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Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Msg #5: Moonlight Becomes Us

Welcome to our fifth preparedness update.All previous updates can be found at https://nehbprepare.blogspot.com 
Useful info and links at the bottom of the page

Important News:


  • We are working on a geomap of attendees which will be shared soon.  The Board has decided to prepare one that has minimal personal information - we expect that if you want to contact one another via the geomap, you will ask for contact information. (Any Board Member can share that with you.)
  • If you are a new or returning attendee and want a sponsor assigned to you, someone who can help you prepare better or answer your questions, please ask.
  • Many attendees ask to purchase additional part learning tracks.  The Board has slightly modified its previous policies.  Attendees can purchase additional parts only for rallies where they have paid for the music. Cost will be $20 per part - available until we run out of licenses. We will be requiring a statement that you understand the tracks are for your personal use, not for other groups or quartets and that they cannot be shared.  If you have previously asked for part recordings, please check in with us again.

  • Please join the preparedness team!  I'm looking for a lead, baritone and tenor who can help write up some notes which aid in learning that part on all 12 songs.
  • Reminders:
    • We are still seeking and accepting singers, especially leads.  Please: promote us to your quartet, chorus or other talented sing friends.  Scholarships are available, if needed.  Have them apply.
    • We are beginning to plan run-throughs - please attend or host.  May is songs 1-4.  To schedule a run-through, email Rob Sheridan.  You can access the calendar on the web, add it to your own online calendar or find it on the NEHB web site.
    • Current members - a reminder that to retain your membership you must have a current BHS membership and you must also attend at least every other year.  Memberships expire after the second consecutive failure to attend.

Moonlight Becomes You

Music by James Van Heusen, Words by Johnny Burke
Arrangement by Ed Waesche

Let’s not spend a lot of time on the actual movie this wonderful song came from.  It was one of the many Bing Crosby/Bob Hope “Road to ....” films. They were screwball musical comedies with essentially racist premises, and fantastic singing.  This one was Road to Morocco. (The full list in order: Singapore, Zanzibar, Morocco, Utopia, Rio, Bali, Hong Kong.)

Moonlight Becomes You, is a simply gorgeous love song, made utterly barbershop singable.  The original song was written for Paramount Pictures by James Van Heusen (music) and Johnny Burke (lyrics). They wrote almost all the music for almost all the Road To pictures.  Paramount Pictures was, like most of the other studios, in a factory model - sign stars to long term contracts, write formula films that made money, and put them before audiences as fast as possible. Ed Waesche wrote our arrangement, lush with beautiful chords.

Bing Crosby made the song famous - it’s been covered again and again and again.

The plot is wonderfully confused and confusing, with a Moroccan Princess intent on marrying one of two shipwrecked best friends, while the other best friend tries to insert himself into the situation - not knowing that the first man to marry the Princess is predicted to die within the week.  As with most screwball comedies, both men find lovely women in the end, and leave to return to America.

Anyway, Bing wins the girl with this song, and it’s used as a theme throughout.  If you don’t know Bing Crosby’s career - I lack the space to tell you. He was that good, and that successful - with more movies, awards, songs, comedies, television shows, etcetera than perhaps any other American entertainer.

I had a wonderful conversation at Mixed Harmony Brigade of New England about this song.  We were wondering why women leads sang this song slowly, while men tended to lead the song more quickly.  My theory was - to a woman this is a song about how beautiful you look, and it can’t last long enough, to a man this was a declaration of love. We worry if it’ll go badly, so we sort of get to the point.  Women: beauty. Men: worry about rejection. It’s my crazy theory, and I’m sticking to it for now. :-)

VIDEO LINK

The song, from the movie, sung by Bing Crosby
Ella Fitzgerald - She is always a great example of style
Frank Sinatra - His rhythm is always unique, but his emotion is sublime
Seth MacFarlane swings the heck out of it.  (Yes, the Family Guy animator and voice actor)

Useful Info And Links

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Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Msg #4: Dreaming and other planning

Welcome to our fourth preparedness update.All previous updates can be found at https://nehbprepare.blogspot.com 
Useful info and links at the bottom of the page

Important News:

  • If you have sponsored someone - have you checked on their progress? If you have a sponsor, do you know who it is and have you checked in with them?  These relationships will make for a more exciting and prepared rally.

  • We will be announcing a new policy on purchasing other-part learning tracks shortly. (After the Board meeting 12May2019.)
    • We are still seeking and accepting singers, especially in the higher parts.  Please: promote us to your quartet, chorus or other talented sing friends.  Scholarships are available, if needed.  Have them apply.

Learning Is A Philosophy

Some people are wired to always learn - I admire that passion, and try to emulate it.  Some people think that learning time is later - don't be that guy.  If you prepare now - you reduce your stress.  Don't wait to the last minute, and come to the Rally worried.  Early preparation is the best way to keep everything fun.

Prepare with a buddy - check notes, check words, talk about the music.  Your sponsor (if you have one) is a great choice, but we can find you a partner if you need one.

Professionally, I am a software engineer.  Any software engineer can tell you that a good start now is better than a great start later.  Constant growth and improvement is a goal - often referred to as kaizen.

Give yourself the gift of kaizen - constant slow growth and improvement, predicated on making consistent early efforts.

Please Join The Preparedness Team

I've been creating notes for myself on potential trouble spots on each song. (You will see a lot of progress, because I learned the core 8 for another brigade earlier this year.)

I'd love to have a tenor, lead and baritone create a similar document that we can share, which outlines potential trouble spots for their part.  Please volunteer by sending me an email.

Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)

Words and Music by Billy Joel
Arrangement by Kirk Young

I am indebted to Rueben Barnes for his interpretation of this song as he coached my chorus (Vocal Revolution).

Lullabye is Billy Joel’s famous song for his children, a song with many layers of meaning. (Billy Joel also made a children’s book out of it)  Northeast District’s own Kirk Young arranged this song, and it is immensely popular.  NEHB introduced this song to Harmony Brigades at our first ever rally.

The song is not called “Lullaby”, but “Lullabye” - a portmanteau of Lullaby and Goodbye.

There are many stories about the origin of the song - but let’s go right to Billy Joel himself for the story - in this video. He had a melody, but no lyrics. One night his daughter asked “Daddy, what happens when you die?”. His answer was that when you die, you go into other people’s hearts. You go into the rest of their lives with them.  But since this question was asked while Billy Joel and his wife were divorcing, so he felt the question was two-fold: she was also asking if he was going to leave her? He said never would. These are the first two layers of the song - death and divorce

One of the fascinating moments in the video is that telling the story made him too emotional to sing. The best performances I have ever done of this song were when I let my heart out - at Mixed Harmony Brigade of New England, one entire quartet began crying as we sang.  It was amazing.

The lyrics are simply about putting your young child to sleep - another layer of meaning. (The song’s verses are about closing eyes, going to sleep, and dreaming.)

Most parents do the same sleepy-time pattern every night.  In my house, I gave my daughter a warm bath, read her a few stories, sang a quiet song. This was a daily precious time for both of us.  To prolong that moment, young children often ask questions. They talk about fears, or ask about things that matter to them. The answers are a time for comfort - you promise to never be far away.  Sometimes the next room, but sometimes you promise to always be there for them. You will love them, forever.

But it is time for sleep, and so no matter what it left unsaid - you put them down to sleep, and go into the next room.  If things go well, they go to sleep with a quiet mind - but it’s not unusual for you to bring your thoughts and worries with you. You think of the past, you wonder about the future. Those are deep waters indeed.

As your child lays asleep and dreaming - you also dream. You think about your dreams for your child and yourself. Someday, your child will grow up, and you will grow old, and you will die.  Someday your child will be where you are now. Will they know your song? Will they sing them to your grandchildren - even if you aren’t there?

Will the things that matter most to you, become an important part of your child, and future generations?

Even if you aren’t a parent, you were once a child.  Remember.

Performance note - there are a number of pickups into the next phrase (most often the bass has the pickup.).  It is lovely when the other 3 parts hold over the breath before the pickup, and then breath on their own. The song is a bedtime ritual - close your eyes, go to sleep, dream.

VIDEO LINKS
Gas House Gang (from a studio album)
Fireside Quartet absolutely crushing this arrangement - two of them attend NEHB....

Useful Info And Links

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Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Msg #3: Be a follower, not a leader

Welcome to our third preparedness update.All previous updates can be found at https://nehbprepare.blogspot.com 
Useful info and links at the bottom of the page

Important News

  • Will Johnson is still looking for people interested in the challenge song Loch Lomond. Our challenge song program is an optional 13th song from the list of songs submitted for our rally. Email him to express interest or to get additional information.
  • We are still seeking and accepting singers, especially in the higher parts.  Please: promote us to your quartet, chorus or other talented sing friends.  Scholarships are available, if needed.  Have them apply.

Useful Music Learning Tips

I'll be adding one or two ideas on learning music, on occasion.

There are a number of useful tips and techniques for software tools on the NEHB website that you can use to manipulate your learning tracks.  Audacity (on laptops) can be used to slow songs, record you singing against the other parts (for later analysis) and so forth.  Phone apps can do some of those things as well - explore what your phone can do!

As you learn your words and notes, it is absolutely vital to learn the planned breathing spots in each song.  In songs this challenging, a missed breath can really hurt your singing!  It's not unusual for songs this challenging to require additional breaths.  (For example, the bass part at the beginning of Change The World, or various posts.)  Planning your own personal breathes is an important part of preparation.

Come Follow The Band

Music Cy Coleman, Lyrics Michael Stewart
Arrangement by Steve Tramack
It’s all about the circus - the roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd. :-)
Back in the 1800s, a famous son of Connecticut, a local mayor and businessman got into show business - Phineas Taylor Barnum.  His fascination with hoaxes, freaks and oddities (and his willingness to huckster people into paying to see them) created one of America’s most famous traveling circuses.
He was a famous promoter and showman. He was both a great and terrible man - a slave owner who became a voice against slavery in the Civil War, a huckster and humbug who was a dutiful politician and mayor. Promoter of theater and music, creator of frauds and outrageous promotions. You may think you know of him from his most famous creation - the Barnum and Bailey Circus. But there was much more to him than that.
Quite the American character.  So much so that a musical named Barnum was written about his life - although it is only loosely based upon the facts.
Come Follow The Band is a rousing march from the show, sung when he goes on tour with his paramour and they are greeted in a wild and self-promotional fashion.  The song opens the second act of the play. It’s big, it’s loud, it’s jump out of your seat. All the razzamatazz, all of the oompapa!
Arranged by New England’s own Steve Tramack - he boils down an entire marching band with dozens of instruments to only four parts.  It’ll keep you busy, but it’s worth it. When singing the part of a musical instrument, embrace the instrument completely. Sing it well, but sing it silly - it’ll repay you.
Bass Notes - this song is tough.  It has five repetitions of the chorus, none are the same.  It has two repetitions of the interlude - with little in common.  And it has almost no words to hang it all on, but the various “noises” are critical.  I found it easiest to break it down, and learn each chorus individually (1-5) until I could sing any of them as individual songs in any order.  After that the interludes are relatively easy to learn.
Once learned, it is superb to sing.  You will be rewarded for your efforts.
VIDEO LINKS
The soundtrack from the Broadway performance.
A reprise of the original show, in London, featuring Jim Dale in the role (CHOREOGRAPHY!)
A performance from Australia - you can see how important it is to commit to the song fully

Useful Info And Links


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